Notice of Availability of the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Military Training in the Marianas, Territory of Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Availability of the Revised Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS) for Military Training in the Marianas, Territory of

Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

AGENCY: U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The USCINCPAC announces that a Revised DEIS has been prepared

and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This

Revised DEIS concerns ongoing and proposed military training in the

Marianas, Territory of Guam, and CNMI. The Revised DEIS supersedes the

original DEIS filed in February 1997. Limited copies of the Revised

DEIS are available upon request and public comments are solicited.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Requests for single copies of the Revised DEIS and submittal

of written comments for inclusion into the official record should be

forwarded to Mr. Fred Minato (Code 231FM), Pacific Division, Naval

Facilities Engineering Command, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 96860-7300 or via

electronic mail (see Supplementary Information for electronic filing

address).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Fred Minato (808) 471-9338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by the

Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508),

the USCINCPAC has prepared and filed with the U.S. EPA the above

referenced Revised DEIS.

The Revised DEIS is based on both oral and written comments

received on the original DEIS. The Notice of Announcement of Public

Hearing and Availability of the original DEIS of January 1997 was

published in the Federal Register on February 11, 1997 (62 FR 6228) and

local newspapers on February 14 through 16, 1997, and Public Meetings

were conducted during the period March 3 through 6, 1997, on Guam,

Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.

The Revised DEIS has been distributed to various federal,

territorial, and commonwealth agencies, elected officials, individuals

and organizations in the community, public libraries, and the media,

including all parties who participated/commented on the original DEIS.

A limited number of single copies are available at the address listed.

The Revised DEIS evaluates alternative uses of DOD controlled lands

on Guam, Tinian, Rota, and Farallon de Medinilla (FDM) for training by

Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Army Reserve

forces stationed on Guam or transiting the region. Most of the training

land uses described in the Revised DEIS are continuing activities; a

small number of areas are also proposed for new training use. The

alternatives are (1) No New Action, consisting of all ongoing land use

for military training; (2) No Land Use, which is stopping use of one or

more areas for training which has previously occurred; (3) the

Preferred Alternative, which includes ongoing training land use and

most, but not all, newly proposed training land uses; and (4) Not-

Preferred Action Alternatives, which includes newly proposed training

land uses which are not necessary to meet the purpose and need and

which have significant impacts that cannot be mitigated.

The training areas on Guam proposed for continuing and new military

training activities are Navy and Air Force sites (Andersen Air Force

Base, Waterfront Annex, Ordnance Annex, Naval Computer and

Telecommunications Area Master Station Finegayan and Barrigada),

private lands along the Ylig and Talofofo Rivers, and a non-military

paradrop zone in Dandan. Areas on Rota proposed for new and continuing

training consist of the airport and a small area within West Harbor.

Areas currently used for training on Tinian are within the Military

Lease Area, with limited activities in San Jose Harbor. The entire

island of FDM is used as a live fire range.

Continuing and proposed training use of these areas include field

maneuvers and logistics support, aviation, amphibious landings, live

weapons fire at existing and proposed ranges, underwater demolitions,

naval gunfire, and aerial bombardment. The proposed action also

includes construction or installation of facilities at several

locations: a small arms range and mortar range on Tinian, breaching or

shooting houses on Tinian, a logistics support base camp and security

gates on Tinian, a sniper range and breaching house in the Ordnance

Annex, extension of several small arms ranges in the Waterfront Annex,

and crew-served weapons ranges on FDM.

To be incorporated in the official record, all written statements

must be postmarked on or before September 28, 1998, and mailed to Mr.

Fred Minato at the address listed or transmitted by facsimile

transmission to (808) 474-5909. Electronic Filing Address: You may

submit comments and data by electronic mail to:

[email protected].

Dated: August 10, 1998.

Michael I. Quinn,

Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register

Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-21728 Filed 8-13-98; 8:45 am]

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